The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-25
TIE GREAT PARIS zoo.
THEODORE STANTON TELLS OF
ITS WONDERS.
The Carrier Pigeons and Their Great
Work During the siege-The Ashantees,
Their strange Customs and Religion
white Blackbirj.
Special Correspondence

A white Blackbird.
Special Correspondence.
PARIS. Nov THE Paris Geological gar
den on sunny day Is one OF the most at
tractive spots i'm the world. But, during the
late war with Germany, il was nearly ruined.
Romeo, the elephant, and other valuable AMI
mails were sacrificed for food
The carrier pigeons that did such noble
service during the siege were mostly raised
ia this establishment, and those that survived
the war were kept there and most tenderly
treated Many died gloriously ON the field
Of honor say the records Of the society,
which preserves o full account OF their won
derful feats Some Of them again and again
dared the PruSsian lines, carrying those
precious microscopic dispatches photo
graphed upon pellicles OF cOllodion-so light
that the whole 1900 received during the
siege do not weigh over one gramme little
over fifteen grains.
Since the war, however, no efforts nave
been spared 20 replace the animals that We're
sacrificed and 70 make the pleasure grounds
pretty and agreeable 20 visitors. A. there
has been a marked taste in Paris OF late for
ties. the management each season provides
some fresh attraction Natives from the
most ouilandish countries under the sun have
figured one after another, with their wives
and families, their domestic animals and be-
longings. and acclimatized themselves for
few weeks in the verdant Enclosure set apart
for them at the upper end OF the garden
Thus the curiously inclined have been able to
see in turn Esquimaux and Laps, Abyssin-
ians and Nubians, Caribbean Galiois ana
Omaha red Indians, Patagonians and Gin
galese, Zulus and Gauchos, and we are today
treated to troupe OF Ashantees from the
gold coast Of Africa in all the glory OF their
primitive devitry and nakedness
The great green house Of these gardens Is
intended 10 afford suitable shelter for plants
which are too tender 10 endure the open AR
during the colder parts Of the year. The
building itself, which IS 70 the left on enter
ing. would enchant even the most indifferent
observer 10 was once the property OF the
Lemichez brothers celebrated florists at Vii
liers. near Paris. at which place 1t was known
as the Palace of Flowers The society pur-
chased IL in 1861, and every winter since
then there has been a magnificent ana un-
failing display Of plants and flowers. Masses
of strong growing eXotics, such as camellhs,
solanums hydrangeas, rhOdodondrons, aza-
leas. primroses, fuchsias, ysauthemum7'
ferns. peargoniums, constantly succeed each
other during the year These are merely 10
delight the visitor, the great object Of the
dollhouse being 20 nurse stu more delicate
plants and experiment with them. AZ the
further end Of this spacious greenhouse is a
beautiful groito, where d tiny brook plays
hide aud seek among the fronds OF the
maidenhair and other lovely ferns The re-
markable thing about this great greenhouse
is the ever fourishmg, ever perfect condition
of It's vegetation. or course, this effect must
be secured by accursal h0thouses, not
always open tO visitors. No tree, uo plant,
ever appears there IN "a sicdy conditions but
this may be said also Of tho animals Ia the
gardens.
AT the back OF the grotto is n large cage,
inclosing scores Of diminutive birds There
! received nay first notion of the natural
briliaucy Of the plunage Of these birds; It's
golden sheen literally dazzied tine eyes. Be-
yond these dainty little creatures Is tho tribe
Of muumerable parrots and par0quets,
NNNot ldNHfiilr 'iIi NAAfN' t-t' 4N "a ''-
beautiful greenhouse
The deep bay of the hounds or the yelping OF
thesmallerd dog catches the visitors eur as soon
as he leaves the din OF the parrot house 10 be
directs bis steps toward the dog kennels.
Among the animals classified AZ watch
logs or otherwise 'useful," are the black
and white Newfoundland, some Of large size
and fairly pure: the Pyreneean and Leonhers
mountain mastiffs, with tawny hides and
the gaunt, iron gray boarhounds, perhaps
the most striking animals in the collection.
The monkey house Is a well built square
shaped structure, with large cage IN front
and a number Of coy straw Uttered COM
partments inside The entrance is provided
with folding doors 70 prevent draughts The
gems Cyu0cephalus, on dog faced balloon,
with the drill aud mandrill, are among the
few privileged apes 10 air themselves outside
in sunny weather
Not far beyond the monkey house oppo-
site the cranes and tho turkeys, Is n separate
cage wherein dwells, IN solitary grandeur,
splendid specimen OF the great horn owl,
gilt Of the late Gustave DOre, the prolific
French artist
The sea lions pond is one OF the attractions
of the garden. lt contains living specimens
OF those remarkable animals which reached
the garden on July I, 1915, and have ever
since thrived IN their watcry abode 10 the
delight of visitors
The aquarium contains fourteen tanks,
alive with roach and gudgeou, trout bred in
the garden. goldfish, sea anemone and ami
nal flowers, cOuger GELS, hippOcamps and
the famous octopus At the back OF the
aquarium Is ain inclosure and broOklet with
monster esculeut buifrogs from Louisiana,
and samples OF the bhckiooted penguin from
north Africa. OF the larger animals dis
persed all over the grounds l may instance
the yak, the elan, the African gnu, the elk OF
northern forests, the hunting leopard from
India as tame as a cat; a handsome antelope
from Africa and a bison tailed deer from
the emperor Of China park at Peku.
OF the birds and fowls OF the air, tho SPEC
linens are as numerous as they are gorgeous
The white and the blue swans and the black
necxed su4cies disport themselves with all